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Today, patients have access to numerous resources in order to
become better informed and are more knowledgeable about medical
issues. As a result, consumers use this information to help them
in making important decisions as it pertains to their healthcare.
One of these important decisions, is how to decide upon a surgeon
when facing a major surgical procedure.
Whether your primary care provider has recommended a surgeon or
you decide to select one on your own, it’s important to research
your surgeon’s qualification.
Some of the credentials and items to consider follow below:
- Board Certification
Status: A sign of a surgeon’s competency is
often qualified by their certification by a surgical board
that is approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.
Surgeons who are board-certified in a surgical specialty have
completed years of residency training and demonstrated knowledge
and competence by successfully completing a rigorous examination.
- Fellowship in
the American College of Surgeons: The letters FACS
(Fellow of the American College of Surgeons) after a surgeon’s
name are used to indicate that the surgeon's
education and training, professional qualifications, surgical
competence, and ethical conduct have passed a rigorous evaluation,
and have been found to be consistent with the high standards
established and demanded by said College.
- High Surgical
Volume (Number of Cases): You can consider asking your
surgeon how many of your type of operation he/she has
performed in the past year. Research suggests that surgical
outcomes tend to be better when surgical volume is highest.
A surgeon who performs many of your type of procedure will
most likely be a better choice than one who does very few.
Unfortunately, there is no definite answer to how many is “many”?
Although some excellent surgeons can maintain their skills
in doing a specific surgical procedure without continuing practice,
if a surgeon is not performing an operation like yours at least
every few weeks, you have reason to consider whether a more
practiced surgeon might lead to a better outcome. If your surgeon
practices in a teaching hospital, be sure to insist that your
chosen surgeon, rather than an intern or resident, perform
the surgical procedure.
- Practice at a
reputable hospital —Choosing a doctor who practices
at a highly reputable, accredited health care facility, may
improve the chances of surgical quality while, again, not guaranteeing
it.
- Recommended by
a commercial evaluation service: When outcomes data
is not available for your state, hospital, or type of operation,
you might consider using one of several commercial, online “Best
Doctor” services. (Try searching the Internet using the
term “best doctors.”) One such service, http://www.bestdoctors.com,
uses a national survey method to solicit doctor recommendations
from other prominent doctors. While using a physician found
by this method does not guarantee excellence, it does enable
you to use a surgeon who has received multiple votes of confidence
from his or her peers. These services often charge a fee for
their recommendations.
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